Progression related to age

[wheelnut]

Hi

A keen viewer on here but haven't posted much lately.

I've always had very good vision as a child/young adult and when it got worse at about the age of 27 I was diagnosed KC and given glasses. To be honest my prescription has not varied much in the last 10 (36 now) years. Even so I have just moved to gp's. My vision is so much better with them although they take a bit of getting used to. When I take the lenses out and go back to my glasses it takes a while to adjust back to them. But I still have usuable vision with specs.

I notice in other people KC seems to come at a much earlier age. Is the progression likely (i use that word as I fully realise there are no definates) to be more severe the younger you are diagnosed, or does it not matter when you first notice the symptoms?

Andy

[jayuk]

Andy

Hard to say really.....many do believe that if you get KC at a later stage, that you you not be severely affected as far as the condition is concerned. But i have seen instances where that does not hold up........but this is def a grey area!

J

[jayboi2005]

Well, i have to agree with jayuk on progression. I have asked so many questions from a veriety of people. And done lots of research and it is like nature, well it is nature at its worst. YOU NEVER KNOW. Its all guessing, i have apparently had this since i was 14 and it didnt move much for 2 years and now its moving so fast if it was a race i would win. LOL

[Carol Vines]

its a very individual thing i too was diagnosed at 14 and it changed a number of times until i was in my mid 20's but for the last 15 years its been quite stable with little change.

my opitician is trying to fit my right eye with a lens that "moves" at the moment as he's feels the one i wear doesn't allow the eye to breath and is causing scarring on the cornea.

[wheelnut]

Carol

Is the scarring something that will heal or more permanent.

Having just started to use rgp's I'm unsure whether I'm doing the right thing as it feels a little uneasy to put things in my eye that can rub and cause abrasion on what is already a thinning cornea.

Andy

[Anne Klepacz]

One of the speakers at our last conference quoted a research study which does suggest that people getting KC later are less likely to find it progresses, while those with already severe KC early on are more likely to get to the stage of needing a transplant. However, as Jay says, there are exceptions to the rule. We have many members diagnosed in their teens who have reached their 50s or older without needing a graft. And it all gets a bit muddied by the fact that 20 years ago, KC was often not diagnosed because there wasn't the high tech equipment which now picks up very slight degrees of KC. But the chances are that you won't find much more change if things have been stable for so long. Good luck!
Anne

[GarethB]

If you wear lenses responsibly then the chances of corneal scarring are much reduced, this also goes along with regular checks.

Basically first sign of discomfort, take the lenses out and rest the eyes. If the discomfort persists only while waering lenses get an appointment with the optomotrist for a lens fit test. If any pain persists regardless of wearing lenses then atrip to eye casualty.

For most these are unlikely to happen, but worth remembering.

If you need to wear lenses for a long time, wear one lens at a time, by this I mean start with correcting the sight in just the left eye. Half way through the day, take the left lens out and start correcting the vision in your right eye.

Sounds odd, but given a couple weeks you soon adapt and this helps to reduce the consequences of over wearing lenses significantly.

Build up lens wear slowly, initialy 8 hours in one hour increments daily. There after up the wear time by an hour every couple days or so. Again first sign discomfort after initial lens settling after putting them in, take the lenses out and rest the eye.

If I find the link or if anyone eles cars to add the link for Good eye days and bad eye days would be greatful. Is on the site somewhere!

Follow optomotrists advice TO THE LETTER, it is tempting to get carrried away with new found vision.

Been there, got the T shirt and sufferd the consequences.

Remember KC can cease to progess as quick as it can start to get worse.

[Amarpal]

Some good advice there Gareth.

Apparently KC diagnosed in adolesence can have greater effect becuase the eye is still developing and so the cornea changes shape quite frequently, unlike in adulthood. I was diagnosed when I just turned 13, three and a half years ago, and ever since I started wearing my RGPs, I have been getting replacements at least 3 times a year because of changes in corneal shape.

[Ali Akay]

andy
Scarring could happen as part and parcel of the thinning process and also as a direct result of badly fitting lenses which put undue pressure on the apex of the cone.A well fitting lens could be worn for long periods without much concern about scarring, but if the lens fit is not optimum it'll obviously help to reduce wearing time.As others have pointed out, the key is to take your practitioner's advice and have regular check ups to make sure the fit stays good.If the cornea gets steeper,a lens which was previously a good fit would be flat and start putting pressure on the cone apex.Once scarring happens it could fade when the fit is improved but it would not normally disappear.However, it's possible to have good vision despite localised scars, and it's not all doom and gloom, just better if it could be avoided.

[wheelnut]

Thanks for the advice on the lenses everyone - it's much appreciated. I'm due back for my first post fitting checkup soon so we'll see how that goes.

I've worn them for a max of 8 hours - still feel like two bricks in my eyes though. When you say discomfort, I'm not sure at the moment how comfortbale they are supposed to be. I know that sounds daft but i think you know what I mean!

Andy